Spring seat construction



May 26, 1936. J. l.. MCINERNEY SPRING SEATCONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1954.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE SPRING SEAT CONSTRUCTION James L. Mclnerney, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application February 19, 1934, Serial No. '711,850

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an auxiliary appliance adapted to be used in spring seats, mattresses or other articles of a similar character to which the weight of persons sitting thereon is applied.

In the manufacture of seats for chairs and automobiles, or other similar seats, a spring construction, usually consisting of a plurality of vertically positioned rows of coiled springs resting upon and attached to a supporting base is used, and over the upper side of the spring construction the upholstering and covering fabrics are placed and extend downwardly at the front and back and at the ends of the seat, completely enclosing the spring construction.

Immediately over the upper side of the spring construction it is usual to place a heavy fabric, such as burlap or the like, and above that place upholstering padding, the whole being covered by an outer fabric covering. The burlap and perhaps other additional fabric over the upper side of the spring structure is to support the padding and attempt to keep the same from pressing downwardly into the upper ends of the springs or between the ties which connect the upper coils of the springs. Such use is not satisfactory and the padding, after a period of time, is pressed downwardly into the upper end of the coiled springs and into spaces between adjacent springs where the weight of the person is applied, making depressions in the seat which do not return to the original form of the seat upon removal of the weight.

'I'he same is true with regard to mattresses and cushions such as are used in davenports, chairs and the like which do not have a spring structure, but which consist principally of an interior padding covered at the outside with a fabric covering. The weight of persons sitting on the seats or adjacent the sides of the mattress presses and packs the padding eventually to a point where it will not return to its Original pOStOn making holes and depressions in the seats or mattresses.

My invention has for its object and purpose the provision of a simple, economical and easily manufactured device which may be used in the manufacture of seats, mattresses and the like in either of the types above described, and by means of which the production of undesired depressions in the upper sides of the seats or mattresses is eliminated. The invention for attaining these ends, as well as others not at this time specifically stated, may be understood from the .following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the device of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a wire element used therein.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a slight modification in the shape of the wire member used. v

Fig. 4 is a. plan vview of a modified or different form of construction from that shown in Fig. 2, usable in the same place and relation as the construction shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a still further modified form of wire construction which may be used.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section, similar to Fig. 6, wherein the wire element illustrated in Fig. 4 is used.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

In the making of the auxiliary device of my invention for seats, mattresses and the like, a single length of wire may be bent into thev form shown in Fig. 2 in a consecutive series of loops, having parallel sides I and 2 connected at one end by cross wires 3 and at the opposite ends by crosswires 4. At the free ends of the wire from which this member is made it is shaped, preferably, to make a closed eye 5.

A length of fabric 6, wider than the length of the sides I and 2 of the wire loops, is provided and the wire member shown in Fig. 2 placed thereagainst and lengthwise. It is covered by a second piece of fabric 'I which has a width slightly greater than the lengths of the sides I and 2. The fabric 1 is then sewed or stitched, as indicated at 8, to the fabric 6, completely covering and retaining the wire member between the two pieces of fabric 6 and l. In practice, as shown, one edge of the fabric I may be nearer the adjacent edge of the fabric 6 than is the opposite edge. Of course, the position of the wire member and the fabric covering 'I therefor on the fabric 6 may be varied as circumstances may require.

As shown in Fig. 2 the parts 3 and 4 of the wire members formed are bent at right angles to the sides I and 2 of the loops made. This is not necessary or essential particularly and the connection between the sides I and 2 may be curved in the arc of a circle, as indicated at 3a and 4a in Fig. 3. y

In Fig. 4 a somewhat different form of wire member is provided wherein two of the members illustrated in Fig. 2 are formed,-one of them preferably having the sides I and 2 of its loops shorter than the sides I and 2 of the other. The connecting parts 3 at the inner ends of the loops of the two members are placed together and are connected by threading a continuous coil 9 of wire over the same, beginning at one end and turning the same onto and over the adjacent parts 3 by a turning or screwing motion. This connects the two members together, which are then held against separation but each of which has a free pivotal movement with respect to the other about the longitudinal axis of the'helically coiled wire connector 9. A

Also, as shown in Fig. 5, instead of making the two parts shown in Fig. 4 of a single continuous length of wire, a plurality of open rectangular frames may be made having sides I I "and I2 'connected by ends I3 and I4. `The parts I3 of the frames may be placed together and the frames spaced from the next adjacent frames desired distances, the helical coiled wire -9 being screwed over the parts I3 as sho-wn in Fig. 5. Either of these forms shown in Figs. 4 and 5 may be used and likewise held between the fabrics 6 and 'I as shown in Fig. 7.

The construction described is to be used in the building of seats, cushions, mattresses and the like. The fabric G serves to take the place of the usual burlap covering fabric placed over the upper end of the spring structure in automobile seats, or it may be used inaddition thereto, being located so that the upholstering padding at the upper part of the seat will lie above the fabric and over the wire member. rI'he sides I and 2 of the wire members are close enough together that the fabric and padding will not readily press downwardly between said sides and into the lower spring construction of the seat. A spacing from three-quarters of an inch to one inch, or even a greater distance apart has been found eiective, and in any case experience will in a short time `determine the relatively short distance for the sides I and 2 ofthe wire vmembers to be spaced.

In mattresses and cushion seats, which do not have a spring structure, the device described may be placed within the padding near the upper side thereof. That is, the padding used in a mattress or seat will have the device of my invention located therein substantially parallel to the upper side of the mattress or seat but located a short distance below the upper side of the padding. In all cases the wire members Ywill be so positioned that the weight of a person sitting upon the seat or uponthe edge of a mattress is transmitted to the wire preferably substantially midway between its sides in the form shown in Fig. 1, or as near as possible above the longitudinal axis of the coiled wire 9 in the form shown in Figs. 4 `and '7.

"Ih'e wire of iiexible resilient character yields upon the application of weight, holds the padding above from pressing downwardly and returns to its original position when the weight is removed. 'I'he device described may be manufactured as a vself-contained element and sold to manufacturers of seats, mattresses, cushions and the like to loe-used by them in building the completed seat cushion or mattress. The -construction is simple, easily manufactured and economical to produce and has proved particularly satisfactory in l use.

The invention is de ned in the appended claim and is to be considered comprehensive of all` parts being of resilient wire, as specified, said .fabric members being sewed together to form a pocket of substantially the same dimensions `as the said wire construction.

JAMES L. McINERN-EY. 

